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Shri Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations | London Mandir 25th Anniversary , UK & Europe

12 Aug 2020

The webcast opened with a stirring montage of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London

The Janmashtami festival was the first in a series of devotional programmes celebrating the 25th anniversary of London Mandir

The inauguration of the 25th anniversary celebrations was depicted by shots of the traditional deep pragatya by Mahant Swami Maharaj

Archival shots, from August 2019, showed senior and resident swamis also lighting the inaugural lamp, signalling the launch of the 25th anniversary celebrations

Senior swamis in India, including Sadguru Pujya Swayamprakashdas (Doctor) Swami, hailed the inauguration by proclaiming, 'London Mandir Rajat Jayanti Mahotsavni Jay!'

'London Mandir Rajat Jayanti Mahotsavni Jay!' – Sadguru Pujya Tyagvallabhdas Swami

'London Mandir Rajat Jayanti Mahotsavni Jay!' – Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami

'London Mandir Rajat Jayanti Mahotsavni Jay!' – Sadguru Pujya Viveksagardas Swami

'London Mandir Rajat Jayanti Mahotsavni Jay!' – Sadguru Pujya Ghanshyamcharandas Swami

Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj also enthusiastically proclaimed, 'London Mandir Rajat Jayanti Mahotsavni Jay!'

Pramukh Swami Maharaj's blessings were shown in which he recalled the Mandir Mahotsav festival in 1995 commencing with Shri Krishna Janmashtami

A resident volunteer introduced the evening's webcast programme

Swamis commenced the assembly with devotional singing

A captivating drama was shown that had been performed during the Janmashtami festival in London in 2015, in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj

The drama narrated the efforts of Shri Krishna Bhagwan to negotiate peace between the feuding Kauravas and Pandavas

When war became inevitable, Krishna Bhagwan aided the Pandavas because they had chosen him above military prowess and political power

Swamis sang a kirtan extolling the divine friendship between Shri Krishna Bhagwan and Sudama

During the kirtan, highlights were shown of Mahant Swami Maharaj celebrating the Janmashtami festival in London in 2015

Yogvivekdas Swami elaborated upon some of the key themes from the drama

Mahant Swami Maharaj's blessings from the Janmashtami festival in London, 2015, were shown

The festive programme culminated in the live arti of the murtis in the upper sanctum

Yogvivekdas Swami performed the arti of Shri Krishna Bhagwan, signifying his divine birth

Swamis performed the arti of Parabrahma Purushottam Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami and Aksharmukta Gopalanand Swami

Swamis performed the arti of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Swamis performed the arti of Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj

Yogvivekdas Swami gently swung the cradle of Shri Krishna Bhagwan

Swamis sang kirtans extolling the divine birth of Shri Krishna Bhagwan

Swamis devoutly swung the cradle of Shri Krishna Bhagwan

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Radha-Krishna in the cradle